Training device for use in association with skates

ABSTRACT

A weighted training device for use with a skate and more specifically with an ice skate. The weighted training device includes a base that is receivable within an aperture formed between the blade or wheel supports. The base includes first and second ends that are shaped to engage the blade or wheel supports. The base defines an interior cavity into which one or more weighted members can selectively be inserted. A latched cover is positionable over the interior cavity to secure the weighted members therein. The training device includes a mechanism for locking the base in position so that it cannot be accidentally dislodged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention generally relates to training devices. More particularly,the invention relates to a weighted training device. Specifically, theinvention relates to a training device for use in association withskates that allows the athlete to vary the amount of weight they trainwith.

2. Background Information

Athletes are always looking for a competitive edge. They thereforeutilize different methods of training and use various training aids. anddevices to increase their speed, strength and endurance and therebyenhance their performance.

It is known in the prior art for athletes to train with weights added toeither their limbs or their equipment to build up specific muscle groupsused in their sport and to enhance the athlete's strength and endurance.Runners and swimmers are known to strap small weights onto their wristsand ankles, while tennis players and baseball players add weights totheir racquets and bats. Not only do these weights and weighted devicesbuild up the athlete's muscles, but they provide the added benefit of asensation of increased freedom and strength when the weights areremoved, and this gives the athlete a psychologic boost and therebyenhances their performance.

Weighted devices have been proposed in the prior art for use in thetraining regimes of ice hockey players, figure skaters and speed androller skaters. One of the more important considerations when using aweighted device on a skate is how to secure the weighted device to theskate. If the securing mechanism is inadequate then in ice hockeyskates, for example, the fast movements involved in the sport and theconstant impact of the skate blade on the ice surface can increase therisk of the weight becoming detached from the skate and being turnedinto a projectile. Several different mechanisms have been proposed inthe art for attaching some sort of weight to a skate. U.S. Pat. No.3,582,067 issued to Rucks, shows an exercising weight that is enclosedin a sheath and is positioned beneath the boot portion of a skate.Straps are wrapped around the top of the boot to secure the weightedsheath in place. Canadian Patent No. CA2456414, issued to Bjugstad etal, shows a weighted strap that is securable to the boot portion of askate with the weight being positioned under the boot and the strapwrapping around the top and leg portion of the boot. Callahan et aldiscloses a weighted cover in Canadian Patent No. CA2217759. In theCallahan device the weighted cover is positioned around the top of theboot and a fastener extends under the bottom of the boot to hold thecover in place. A non-strap type of weighted device is disclosed inCanadian Patent No. CA982623, issued to Ouellette. Ouellette discloses aweighted device that is positioned between the blade mounting posts thatextend between the blade and the boot. A spring-biased weight isinserted between the posts and is locked into place by a wing nut.Finally, it is also known in the art to simply snap-fit a speciallydesigned weight onto the top of the blade on an ice skate.

A second consideration when using weighted training devices is that,over time, the athlete grows accustomed to the additional weight ontheir equipment and therefore accrues little additional benefit fromusing the weight. This has also been partially addressed in the priorart, in references such as Canadian Patent No. CA2088617, issued toCorey. Corey shows a strap that is secured around the boot portion ofthe skate and includes a plurality of pockets which can hold smallweights therein. The skater can select how much weight he wishes toutilize by adding small weights to the pockets or removing weights fromthe pockets. However, inserting these small weights into the pockets andremoving them from the pockets can be finicky and time consuming becauseof the small size of the pockets involved.

Still a further consideration in the design of a weighted device is thatice hockey players, in particular, like to use weighted devices duringthe warm up period before a game. However, weights are not permitted onthe skates during the playing time of an actual hockey game.Consequently, it is essential that the weighted device be quick and easyto both install and remove as players want to maximize their warm-uptime and may therefore need to remove the weighted device in a hurry.

There is therefore a need in the art for an improved weighted devicethat can be quickly and easily attached to and removed from a skate;that can be attached in a manner that will prevent the weight from beingaccidentally dislodged and that will allow the skater to vary the amountof weight that he/she uses for training purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention includes a base that is receivablewithin an aperture formed between the blade supports or wheel supportson the skate. The base includes first and second ends that are shaped toengage the blade or wheel supports. The first and second ends arepreferably C-shaped and each includes a cushioning pad to help hold thedevice in place between the supports and to dampen any impacts on eitherthe skate or the training device. The training device includes a basehaving an interior cavity into which one or more weighted members canselectively be inserted. A latched cover is selectively positionableover the interior cavity to secure the weighted members therein. Thebase is held between the supports by a spring-biased extendable arm thatcan be locked in substantially any position by a locking mechanismdisposed on the base. The training device can be used with any type ofice, roller or inline skate that includes a pair of mounting supportsfor attaching a blade or wheels to a boot portion of the skate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best modein which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is setforth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and isparticularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of an ice hockey skate having a weightedtraining device in accordance with the present invention installedthereon;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the weighted training device in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional top view of the weighted trainingdevice taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section top view of the highlighted areashown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded rear perspective rear view of the weightedtraining device; and

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the weighted training deviceshowing the addition/removal of a weight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown an ice hockey skate 10 comprising aboot 12, a blade 14 and a blade support 16 connecting blade 14 and boot12 to each other. Blade support 16 defines an aperture 18 therethroughand a training weight in accordance with the present invention andgenerally indicated at 20, is retained within that aperture 18.

Training weight 20 is more clearly shown in FIGS. 2-5. Training weight20 comprises a housing 22 having an adjustable arm 24 extendingoutwardly therefrom. Arm 24 comprises a C-shaped portion 26 and a shaft28. As may be most easily seen from FIG. 2, C-shaped portion 26 istapered when viewed from the side so that a wider end 26 a is disposedproximate housing 22 and a narrower end 26 b is disposed remote fromhousing 22. C-shaped housing 26 is shaped to engage with one of a frontpart 16 a and rear part 16 b of blade support 16. A resilient,compressible rubber pad 23 is secured within the C-shaped portion 26that assists the training weight 20 to conform to differently shapedblade supports 16 on different skates. Pad 23 also assists in keepingtraining weight 20 snug and securely fitted to skate 10. Shaft 28includes a plurality of spaced apart teeth 30 thereon and terminates inan end 32.

Housing 22 includes a base portion 34 and a cover portion 36. As may bemost easily seen from FIG. 5, base portion 34 preferably is manufacturedfrom two side sections 34 a, 34 b and a C-shaped end section 34 c. Endsection 34 c is again provided with a resilient, compressible rubber pad35 which once again helps training weight 10 to fit on a variety ofdifferently shaped and sized blade supports 16 on different skates 10.Side sections 34 a, 34 b and end section 34 c preferably include aplurality of interlocking legs 38 which, when the components areconnected together, ensure that the base 34 may be easily assembled.Side sections 34 a, 34 b also define an internal slot 40 into which arm28 is received. A spring 42 is also retained within slot 40 between end32 of arm 24 and an interior wall 44 (FIG. 3) of end section 34 c.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a sliding lock 46 is positioned proximate afront end of base 34 and is disposed within a channel 72 in base 34. Asmay be best seen from FIG. 3, channel 70 is disposed substantially atright angles to slot 40. Lock 46 includes an aperture 48 through whicharm 24 is received. Arm 24 includes a flange 50 (FIG. 5) that engageslock 46 to prevent arm 24 from being pulled out of slot 40 in housing22. Lock 46 includes a plurality of teeth 49 that are spaced tointerlock with teeth 30 on arm 24 when lock 46 is engaged. As may bemost easily seen from FIG. 6, ends of lock 46 are recessed withinchannel 72. The opening to channel 72 is shaped so as to receive afingertip therethrough. The recessed access to lock ends 46 a preventslock 46 from being accidentally engaged if the player falls or is hit bya stick or puck for example.

When side sections 34 a, 34 b and end section 34 c are connectedtogether with spring 42 and arm 24 being positioned within slot 40, thena plurality of fasteners 52 are used to secure the side sections 34 a,34 b together. It may be seen from FIG. 3, when side sections 34 a, 34 bare so assembled, the front end 22 a of housing 22 is complementary inshape to C-shaped section 26 and is sized to receive the same thereinwhen spring 42 is fully compressed and arm 24 is fully received withinslot 40. Furthermore, when base portion 34 is fully assembled and cover36 is disposed thereover, an interior cavity is formed between aninterior upper surface 36 a of cover 36 and the top walls 54 of sidesections 34 a, 34 b.

In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, one ormore saddle-type weights 56, 58, 60 are selectively insertable into theinterior cavity between upper surface 36 a of cover 36 and top walls 54.Weights 56, 58 and 60 are generally U-shaped in cross-section and arecomplementary sized and shaped to be interlockingly received over topwalls 54. Weights 56, 58 and 60 preferably are all substantially equalin size and weight, although it is to be understood that the weights canweight different amounts without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. When weights 56, 58 and 60 are received within theinterior cavity, then a bottom surface 56 a, 58 a and 60 a thereof abutsa ledge 62 in each side section 34 a, 34 b. The top surfaces 56 b, 58 band 60 b of weights 56, 58, 60 each include a central indentation 64that allows for a latch 66 (FIG. 6) on the underside of cover 36 toslide thereover as cover 36 is moved back and forward over base 34.Weights 56, 58 & 60 preferably are made from any suitable metal andpreferably have a weight range of between ⅛ pound and ⅓ pound.

Cover 36 is further provided with knurling 68 to enable an athlete toengage cover 36 and depress the same slightly inwardly and rearwardly torelease latch 66 and slide cover 36 back toward end 34 c of base so asto gain access to the interior cavity for the insertion or removal ofweights 56, 58 and 60. Cover 36 further has side grooves 70 which act asgrip portions for an athlete to more easily grasp and handle trainingweight 20. It can also be seen from FIGS. 5 & 6, that cover 36 has lips74 that engage with similarly shaped portions on side sections 34 a, 34b to interlocking hold cover 36 on base 34.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the training weight 20 in accordance with thepresent invention is used in the following manner. The athlete decideshow much weight to include in training weight device 20 and then selectsthe relevant number of weights 56, 58 and/or 60. If, for example, theydecide they need to incorporate two weights, 56, 58 for example, intraining device 20, then they slide cover 36 open toward end section 34c of device 20. Weights 56 and 58 are then dropped into the interiorcavity and straddle a ridge 54 formed by side sections 34 a, 34 b. Cover36 is then grasped and slid forward toward C-shaped portion 26. Thetraining device 20 then needs to be installed in the aperture 18 inskate 10. In order to insert device 20 into aperture 18, arm 24 isideally forced inwardly into slot 40 until rear wall 26 a of C-shapedportion 26 abuts front end 22 a of housing 22. This is achieved bysliding lock 46 in a first direction, indicated by the arrow “A” inFIGS. 3, 4 & 6. This sliding movement causes teeth 49 to disengage fromteeth 30 on arm 24. The arm 24 is then free to slide inwardly into slot40. The arm 24 is pushed inwardly to compress spring 42 and then lock 46is slid in the opposite direction to arrow “A” to engage teeth 49 withteeth 30. The interlocking of teeth 49, 47 prevents arm 24 from slidingback out of slot 40.

The athlete then inserts device 10 into aperture 18 so that C-shapedportion 26 is positioned proximate front end 16 a of blade support 16and end section 34 c is positioned proximate back end 16 b of bladesupport 16. The athlete then slides lock 46 back in the direction ofarrow “A”, causing teeth 49 on lock 46 to disengage from teeth 30 on arm24. As soon as the teeth 49, 30 disengage, spring 42 expands and urgesarm 24 to slide outwardly from slot 40 in the direction of arrow “B”(FIG. 3). The outward movement of arm 24 stops when C-shaped portion 26engages front end 16 a of blade support 16 and end section 34 c engagesback end 16 b of blade support 16. When this occurs, pads 23 and 35 areslightly compressed. Training device 20 is then secured in position bysliding lock 46 back in the opposite direction to arrow “A”, therebycausing teeth 49 and teeth 30 to interlock and thereby locking arm 24 inplace. With device 20 secured in place between front end 16 a and rearend 16 b of blade support 16, the athlete can then skate as he/shenormally would.

If at some point the athlete decides that they wish to add to removeweight to device 20, they simply unlock lock 46 as previously describedso that arm 24 is free to move, move arm 24 back toward housing 22 andthen pull device 20 out of aperture 18. The cover 36 is then slidbackwardly toward end section 34 c and weight can be added or removed byinserting one or more weights 56, 58, 60; or by removing one or moreweights 56, 58, 60. Cover 36 is slid back over base 34 toward C-shapedportion 26 and the device 20 is reinstalled in aperture 18 in the mannerpreviously described.

It will be understood that training device 20 can be used with any typeof skate that has an aperture defined between the blade supports. Whenthe training device of the present invention is to be used on a rollerskate or inline skate, for example, then the aperture into which thedevice is inserted lies between the wheel mounting supports.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. A training device for use in association with a skate; said skateincluding a boot portion and first and second mounting supportsextending outwardly away from a bottom surface of said boot portion;said first and second mounting supports defining an aperturetherebetween; and wherein said training device comprises: a base adaptedto be received within the aperture and having a first end adapted toengage the first mounting support and an extendable second end adaptedto engage the second mounting support; a plurality of weighted members;one or more of said weighted members being selectively engaged with thebase.
 2. The training device as defined in claim 1, wherein the basedefines an interior cavity and further includes a cover selectivelymovable to allow access to said interior cavity; and wherein saidweighted members are selectively receivable within said interior cavityof the base.
 3. The training device as defined in claim 2, wherein thebase includes an interior surface surrounding the interior cavity andwherein a portion of that interior surface includes a ridge and saidweighted members are configured so as to straddle said ridge.
 4. Thetraining device as defined in claim 3, wherein the weighted members areeach substantially U-shaped, having an upper wall and opposingdownwardly extending legs.
 5. The training device as defined in claim 4,wherein the cover has an underside and a latch is provided on said coverand extends below the underside thereof; and wherein each of theweighted members includes an indentation in the upper wall thereof; saidindentations being disposed so as to allow passage of the latchtherethrough as said cover is slidably moved in one of said first andsecond directions.
 6. The training device as defined in claim 1, whereinthe first end of the base is substantially C-shaped and includes aresilient pad mounted therein; and wherein said pad abuts the firstmounting support when the training device is received within theaperture.
 7. The training device as defined in claim 1, wherein the basefurther defines a longitudinally oriented slot therein; and said secondend of said base comprises an arm that is slidably receivable withinsaid slot; and wherein said arm has a C-shaped terminal end that isadapted to engage the second mounting support of the skate.
 8. Thetraining device as defined in claim 7, wherein the terminal end furtherincludes a resilient pad therein.
 9. The training device as defined inclaim 8, wherein the base further comprises a coil spring disposedwithin the slot, whereby said spring is compressed when said arm slidesinwardly into said slot; and said spring expands when said arm slidesoutwardly of said slot.
 10. The training device as defined in claim 9,wherein the arm further includes a flange positioned proximate aspring-engaging end thereof, said flange extending outwardly away fromthe arm to substantially prevent the arm from sliding completely out ofthe base.
 11. The training device as defined in claim 9, wherein saidbase further includes a locking mechanism selectively engageable withsaid arm.
 12. The training device as defined in claim 11, wherein saidbase includes a channel disposed so as to intersect said slot; andwherein said locking mechanism comprises a slider movably received insaid channel; and wherein said slider includes a plurality of firstteeth and said arm includes a plurality of second teeth; and whereinmovement of the slider in a first direction causes the first and secondteeth to interlock; and movement of the slider in a second directioncauses the first and second teeth to disengage from each other.
 13. Thetraining device as defined in claim 12, wherein the base includes a pairof opposing side sections and the channel includes an access openingdefined in each of the side sections; and wherein the slider has firstand second ends; and wherein the first and second ends of the slider arerecessed within the access openings.
 14. A training device for use inassociation with an ice skate comprising: a base receivable within anaperture defined between a first blade support and a second bladesupport; said base having a first end that engages the first bladesupport and an extendable second end that engages the second bladesupport; and a plurality of weighted members; one or more of saidweighted members being selectively engaged with the base.
 15. Thetraining device as defined in claim 14, wherein the base defines alongitudinal slot therein; and the second end of the base includes anextendable arm that is slidably received within said slot; said armhaving a terminal end that engages the second blade support.
 16. Thetraining device as defined in claim 15, further comprising a springdisposed within the slot; whereby movement of the arm in a firstdirection compresses the spring and movement of the arm in a seconddirection allows the spring to expand.
 17. The training device asdefined in claim 15, wherein the base further defines an interior cavityand wherein the one or more weighted members are selectively insertableinto the interior cavity of the base; and wherein the training devicefurther includes a removable cover selectively positionable over saidinterior cavity to secure the one or more weighted members therein. 18.The training device as defined in claim 15; wherein at least one of thefirst and second ends of the base is substantially C-shaped.
 19. Thetraining device as defined in claim 15, further comprising; a lockingmechanism for selectively securing a length of the arm within the slotin the base.
 20. The training device as defined in claim 19, wherein thebase further defines a channel therein, said channel being disposedsubstantially at right angles to the slot therein; and wherein thelocking mechanism comprises a slider received within the channel; andwherein said slider includes a plurality of first teeth and said armincludes a plurality of second teeth; and wherein movement of the sliderin a first direction within the channel causes the first and secondteeth to engage; and movement of the slider in a second direction withinthe channel causes the first and second teeth to disengage.